C1013 The News Was Delayed

Joining forces with the Divine Soul Sect and turning her back on the Boundless Land would make her a target for everyone's wrath.

Peach Madam's alluring face contorted slightly at Yu Yuan's words.

Even as her inner evil was amplified, Peach Madam felt a chill at the sound of Yu Yuan's voice.

She couldn't shake the feeling that she had been too impulsive. How had she managed to provoke Yu Yuan?

She had embraced all of Hu Caiyun's experiences, for she was Hu Caiyun's alter ego.

Back in the Ember Waters, she had only heard Heixun briefly mention Yu Yuan, paying him extra attention solely because of his connection to the Evil Cauldron.

At that time, Yu Yuan had no ties to the Divine Soul Sect.

Could it be that Yu Yuan was a chosen disciple of the Divine Soul Sect, having mastered their secret techniques? Otherwise, why would the five great powers give this young man a second glance?

The Divine Soul Sect had a discreet reputation in the Boundless Land, and her knowledge of it was limited. But after her encounters with Heixun and her journey into the stars, she came to realize the staggering potential of the Divine Soul Sect.

If Yu Yuan was indeed linked to the Divine Soul Sect, she would need to think carefully before acting, even after merging with her true self and gaining the strength to defeat Yu Yuan.

As Peach Madam silently grumbled and remained vigilant, her expression shifted once more.

At that moment, five Yang God-level evil cultivators from the northern Quietus Continent, intent on hunting down the marauders aboard the Ancient Black Iron Ship, had breached the deliberately unlocked spatial barrier and emerged high above the Nirvana Realm.

After a prolonged battle with her other half, she had finally gained the upper hand, securing victory over her alter ego.

Until her powers fully integrated, she could not ascend to the Unrestrained Stage.

Thus, her current combat prowess was that of a Yang God.

Her earlier grandiose claims were nothing more than bravado; without regaining the Unrestrained Stage, she doubted her ability to overcome the five Yang Gods.

"Peach Madam, I'll leave them to you," Yu Yuan said, his face breaking into a mischievous grin.

In just a few days, the Dragon Slash Platform behind him would be completely restored. By then, even with the instability of the spatial rift, he would have the means to traverse the galaxy and depart.

Armed with this assurance, and considering that the five evil cultivators were merely at the Yang God level, he wasn't overly concerned.

"Where have the bandits on the Ancient Black Iron Ship disappeared to?"

The stooped elder from the Filthy Spirit Sect, still lugging his massive fishing net brimming with skulls, immediately focused on the stationary Ancient Black Iron Ship upon entering the Nirvana Realm. He extended his soul sense to probe the area, but after a thorough inspection, he sighed in disappointment, "I need the heads of formidable beings from other races to rack up battle achievements. This godforsaken place... Wait, what's that?"

His gaze caught the vibrant sea of clouds beyond the Sky Rift Valley, and within it, the barely discernible silhouettes.

A woman of poise from the Red Devil Sect furrowed her brows and cried out, "Peach Madam!"

Zhan Ruonan of the Red Devil Sect, who had previously ventured into the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea on the Quietus Continent, recognized the figure shrouded within the chromatic clouds at once. It was none other than Peach Madam, who had, years earlier, breached the barriers of the Ember Waters alongside Heixun, White Coat Mercurial, and White Crane.

"Peach Madam of the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea!"

The elder from the Ghoul Glyph Sect, along with a young-looking man from the Voodoo Cult, both gasped in surprise.

Peach Madam's reputation was significant, thanks to her Unrestrained Stage cultivation and her long residence within the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea, coupled with her unique Spiritual Spell.

Upon sighting her in the Nirvana Realm, the five Yang God Stage evil cultivators were visibly startled and anxious.

They exchanged hasty whispers.

"She's diminished in power."

Sun Jun, also of the Red Devil Sect, produced a purple eyeball from his sleeve and peered at Peach Madam. His face softened as he reassured, "No need to worry, she's dealing with her own issues."

"I've heard as well," Zhan Ruonan murmured, "that after her spree of killings in the Spirit Realm, she was not herself and left in haste."

"Why should we fear her?" Gou Yungui, with his hunched back, shook the large fishing net in his hand. "She was merely at the early Unrestrained Stage. After her decline, she's no match for us. Upon leaving the Boundless Land, she had the aid of Heixun and the Divine Soul Sect. In the Outland Star River, she should be the one fearing us!"

Without waiting for a response, Gou Yungui took off, his decision made.

As he soared, Yang Yi of the Ghoul Glyph Sect followed suit, riding on his glyph that resembled a flying carpet.

Consequently, the five Yang God evil cultivators from the northern Quietus Continent set aside the Ancient Black Iron Ship and headed towards the Sky Rift Valley.

"Five Yang Gods, their bodies forged from soul power and pure spiritual energy, meticulously tempered with exotic spiritual materials—they should have little fear of the toxic miasma," Yu Yuan surmised with just a glance, assessing their combat prowess and cultivation levels. He could tell that the most formidable among them was the stately woman from the Red Devil Sect.

Human cultivators, upon entering the Yang God Stage, often ventured out of the Boundless Land to hone their skills in the Outland Star River.

The Yang God Stage is ideal for training breakthroughs in the Outland Star River, where the myriad cosmic energies are conducive to their refinement.

But once they surpass the Yang God Stage and reach the Unrestrained Stage, they are no longer bound by such constraints. Whether it's shedding their Yang God form or soaring through the galaxy in their true bodies, they remain unharmed.

Peach Madam, being at the Unrestrained Stage, had her true form burst forth. Her previous weakness was due to the integration of her inner demon and the toxic miasma into her Yang God form.

Eventually, the Yang God body, condensed from the inner demon and miasma, overpowered and assimilated into her true form.

"From the Red Devil Sect, I am Zhan Ruonan, at your service, Madam!"

"Ghoul Glyph Sect, Yang Yi!"

"Voodoo Cult, Huang Zhenlong."

"Filthy Spirit Sect, Gou Yungui."

Excluding Sun Jun of the Red Devil Sect, the other four Yang God Stage cultivators introduced themselves as they neared the vibrant cloud sea.

Peach Madam, during her time in the Boundless Land, never clashed with the five supreme powers, nor did she commit any unforgivable acts that would harm the realm. Before her departure, she allied with Heixun and was aided by the Divine Soul Sect. Consequently, when they encountered her in the Outer Star River, the five Yang God Stage evil cultivators initially treated her with courtesy, intending to understand the situation and gauge Peach Madam's intentions before reaching a verdict.

"Evil Cauldron!" Sun Jun, with his impassive face, suddenly caught sight of the dark cauldron hovering about ten meters off the ground in the Sky Rift Valley as they were disclosing their identities. He hadn't yet noticed Yu Yuan, hidden in the depths of the valley, and was slow to react.

The bright fissures tearing through the valley's depths threw their vital energies into disarray, scrambling their soul and blood senses, a fact the others had not perceived. But at Sun Jun's exclamation, the rest of the group instantly diverted their gaze from the mesmerizing Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea.

"Evil Cauldron, Yu Yuan!" Zhan Ruonan inhaled sharply, her face taking on an odd expression. The five-person squad hadn't returned to the Vast Expanse in quite some time and hadn't regrouped with the main force, leaving them out of the loop on recent developments. Their last impression of Yu Yuan was from Horror Land, where he and the White Bone King had seemingly triumphed over Mingdu, the chosen one of the five supreme beings. To them, Yu Yuan was audacious and admirable.

Thanks to the positive impressions left by Zhou Cangmin, Faang Yao, and Yuan Lianyao of the Red Devil Sect, Zhan Ruonan's mind raced at the sight of the Evil Cauldron. She speculated that Yu Yuan might have perished, and the cauldron could have been claimed by another—possibly even Mo Yan.

With a whoosh, Zhan Ruonan transformed into a streak of deep red flame and reached the Sky Rift Valley in an instant. There, she laid eyes on Yu Yuan, standing before a complex network of spatial rifts, clad in black with a strikingly handsome and enigmatic presence. Nearby, the dark cauldron and the Ice Concubine, who had ceased her chase, were positioned—one above Yu Yuan's head and the other at his side.

There was also the disheartened young lady, the Void Spirit Succubus, Benin, sitting there with a sullen expression.

"This..."

Zhan Ruonan was perplexed and at a loss for words.

"Have you received any orders to assassinate me?" Yu Yuan inquired, a smile gracing his lips.

"Assassination orders?" Zhan Ruonan shook her head.

Yu Yuan could tell she was out of the loop and unaware of many things. Otherwise, her reaction to seeing him would not have been so composed.

"It's a relief you haven't. Peach Madam, Hu Caiyun, has been overtaken by her own inner demons and the toxic miasma. She's out to kill you, so be on your guard," Yu Yuan said with a chuckle.

"That explains the decline in my level; so that's what's been happening," Zhan Ruonan murmured, then exclaimed in surprise, "Are you truly Yu Yuan? How did you get here? Wait, you're only at the Soul Wandering Stage. By all logic and rules, you shouldn't have emerged this early!"

At that moment, Sun Jun of the Red Devil Sect arrived, driven by his concern for her.

With his unusual purple eyes, Sun Jun scrutinized Yu Yuan and said gravely, "Sister Nan, his true combat strength far exceeds his apparent level of cultivation. His body is... quite peculiar. I can sense the blood of various other races within him, a complex mixture."

Zhan Ruonan was startled once more, "Tell us about what's been happening with you."

"No need. You're better off not knowing," Yu Yuan replied with a smile, a hint of disappointment in his tone. "I had hoped that my exploits were already legendary across the stars. Alas, it seems I was overly optimistic."

"What's really going on?" Zhan Ruonan's curiosity was now thoroughly aroused.

"There's no point in me telling you; you need to discover it on your own," Yu Yuan said, gesturing for them to leave. "I'll be in the Nirvana Realm for a bit longer. Since you're not up to speed, we can discuss this after I've departed."

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